Rarely have women in history played a more deliciously mysterious role than that of the 600 years of the Ottoman Empire, when what is modern-day Turkey and lands from the Balkans to Syria sat at the center of a great Empire. These were the days of the harem, when women and girls as young as seven years old were held in a secret world where they could be governed, educated, and primarily enjoyed by the Sultan and his court.

The Ottoman Imperial Harem was an integral part of the Sultan's court from 1299 to 1920 AD, consisting of wives, servants, female relatives, and concubines. Far from just being a place for the Sultan's entertainment, the women of the harem played significant roles within the empire, with some even participating in governance. The harem served as the women's quarter in a Muslim household, where most of the women were educated before serving the Sultan or his family. A small number were consorts, but many entered the harem as gifts from their families or were captured. These women, often of notable beauty from regions such as Circassia, Georgia, and Abkhazia, could be freed with a pension or an arranged marriage after completing their service.

The harem was characterized by seclusion, with women having limited contact with outsiders, giving rise to numerous tales and myths that have been woven into historical tradition (source 17). Many of the concubines and odalisques were reputed to be among the most beautiful women in the empire, with their main function being to entertain the Sultan in the bedchamber. The harem also included the households of the Valide Sultan (Queen Mother) and the Sultan's favorites (hasekis).

The image of the Ottoman harem has often been sensationalized in popular culture, possibly leading to exaggerated perceptions of the sexual lives of harem women. However, the historical reality was complex, with women's roles extending beyond mere entertainment to include education, administration, and court politics.